Getting Started > Know what you can do

Know what you can do

YOU CAN: Provide information and learning opportunities

Sharing information with your members can encourage them to think about their experiences and help them find strategies to use in their own lives. Use your creativity to get the messages out. Try posters, bulletin boards, brochures, newsletters, presentations, demonstrations, guest speakers, discussion groups, videos and displays.

Resources: Handouts provides information on falls and active living that you can share with your members.

As you make plans to share information with your members, keep in mind:

• Adults are motivated to learn when they are solving a problem that matters to them.
• Adults learn from each other's experiences. Sharing personal stories about falls, for example, can help your members see that the issue really does affect them.
• Repeating information and activities helps people build knowledge, skills, and confidence. Over time, repetition may also help people change their attitudes.
• Adults also learn best when a variety of ways of communicating are used.

See Resources: Program Tools:

• Program Tool 5 - Tips on making a presentation
• Program Tool 6 - Tips for leading a discussion group
• Program Tool 7 - How Adults Learn

YOU CAN: Offer programs and activities
Planning programs starts by considering participants' interests, needs, schedules, and budgets. Resources: Program Tool 8 - Tips for planning your program for a practical step-by-step approach.

Programs can be for individuals or groups. They may be formal or informal. They may have a single focus or a mix of information sharing, skill building, awareness raising, social interaction or entertainment! Programs that encourage people to explore their beliefs through reflections and discussions are particularly effective in helping them make changes.

Programs may be offered on a one time only basis. Events such as trips to walking trails, holiday parties, participation in the annual Seniors' Games, celebrations or award ceremonies, a group walk on International Day of Older Persons or a health fair during Seniors' Safety Week are opportunities to promote safe, active living.

Programs may also be offered on an on-going, regular basis. Activities such as balance or stretch breaks during card games, walking clubs, Tai Chi classes, strength or balance training, falls prevention clinics and foot clinics could become regular features at your organization.

See Resources: Activity Tools for sample programs that you might want to try with your members. Some of these programs are complete - you only need to review them, make sure you have whatever props you need, and get people involved. You could also develop your own programs, using a sample program as a starting point.

YOU CAN: Motivate and support your members

Supporting people through change means helping them set goals and track their progress. It means helping people find their own solutions and providing personal support. This may be a simple telephone call or a brief chat in the hallway to let someone know that you are aware of her efforts to make a change and are available to help however you can. Find out how she is doing and LISTEN to what she has to say!

Support also means recognizing members' achievements and providing positive reinforcement for people making lifestyle changes. Positive reinforcement helps people recognize the small steps they have taken, overcome obstacles and discouragement and keep going. Often a simple pat on the back and a few encouraging words can help. You can also reinforce positive achievements more formally with awards, special events, and recognition in a newsletter or on a bulletin board.

See Resources: Program Tools:

• Program Tool 3 - Falls Prevention: Tips for supporting older adults
• Program Tool 4 - Active Living: Tips for supporting older adults
  

YOU CAN: Remove barriers to change
Making it as easy as possible for people to participate in events that help them make lifestyle changes is also an important support. Common barriers to participation relate to the cost or scheduling of an event and access to transportation.

Think creatively about how you can reduce obvious barriers and reach as many members as possible. For example, you could schedule a "balance or stretch break" before an afternoon bridge session or develop a small library of videos for people who want to do exercises at home. Improve transportation to your centre by contacting your local bus company to ensure that your members with special needs will be picked up and dropped off in a timely way, or set up a car pool system. Keep costs to a minimum by using volunteers to help out with programs when possible.

YOU CAN: Make changes in and around your centre
Your centre can become safer. Even small changes can be crucial in supporting more active lifestyles and in minimizing older adults' risk of falling. Your community can be safer too. You may want to reach out to other groups in your neighbourhood and work with them to ensure your community is safe and inviting for active living (activity-friendly).

For many ideas and strategies see the sections:

• Safer centres
• Safer communities
  

YOU CAN: Provide links to other resources in the community
No organization can do it all. Likely many organizations in your community have helpful information, programs or services. Each section of this Guide has some suggestions for whom to contact as a starting point for reaching out to other groups for support and additional resources that could be of benefit to your members.

YOU CAN: Evaluate your programs
Evaluation is an important part of program planning. Evaluation done throughout the program helps you decide what was successful and how to do better next time. Before you start a new program, think about how you will know if it has made a difference. Read: Evaluating your program for some simple, practical suggestions.